Guwahati: In Assam, around 1500 ultras belonging to nine ethnic militant groups will formally lay down arms at a surrender ceremony organized at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati this morning (10.00 a.m.).

A State Police spokesman said that the militants will lay down arms in presence of the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and the State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi besides senior police and civil officials. The nine groups to surrender en-masse are part of two major ethnic groups - the tribal Kukis and the Adivasis.

Among the major groups that are surrendering include the Kuki Revolutionary Army, the Hmar People’s Convention, the Birsa Commando Force, and the Adivasi Cobra Militant of Assam.

All these militant groups are already observing cease-fire with the Government, although formal peace talks are yet to begin. Most of these groups were either fighting for secession or for greater autonomy.

Mr. Tarun Gogoi said the Government will hold talks with all these groups and see to it that their genuine grievances are met.

AIR Guwahati correspondent reports that this would be the biggest-ever surrender of militants in the North-East.